Objective:

To position rural areas so as to provide economic activity of sufficient mass to attract people to live and work there.

Eligible Activities include:

• Selected investment in small enterprise space.
• Provision for a range of assistance for start-up enterprises and expansion of existing enterprises including the adoption of new technologies.
• Development of innovative products and activities.
• The provision of a range of assistance types for adding value to local products, including support for business networks, collective marketing, local branding initiatives, and improved quality and development of artisan processing facilities.
• Utilisation of local ICT capacity, for example centralised online processing of micro enterprise administrative activities, will also be supported.
• Actions to foster rural entrepreneurship, particularly combined with support for small-scale research, analysis and development.

Projects funded under this measure include:

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Objective:

To maximise the sustainable, regionally balanced, tourism potential of all rural areas through the provision of necessary infrastructure and development of the countryside as a recreational resource for all.

Eligible Activities include:

• Support for the development of tourism facilities and amenities.
• Support for tourism marketing.
• Support for the provision of tourism accommodation.
• Analysis and provision of infrastructural needs for tourism and countryside recreation in a defined area.
• Maintenance of vernacular features – in a way that protects the heritage of the features – such as disused railway lines, canal towpaths, bog roads, etc.
• Development of the use of forests for countryside recreation.
• Development of niche tourism such as crafts, speciality food provision, ecotourism, genealogy, archaeology, etc.
• Development of the use of the internet and ecommerce facilities in general for the provision of booking and information services to tourists.

Projects funded under this measure include:

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Objective:

To identify and provide appropriate cultural and leisure facilities to local communities, not otherwise available to them.

Eligible Activities include:

• Amenity and leisure facilities.
• Support for cultural activities.
• Certain arts facilities.
• General community and recreational infrastructure.
• Innovative activities in local communities such as social and information networks.

Ineligible Activities:

• Mainstream activities of sports organisations and bodies are excluded from support under this measure.

Projects funded under this measure include:

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Objective:

To provide appropriate supports to enhance the economic and social attractiveness of villages, small towns and the surrounding countryside.

Eligible Activities include:

• Environmental upgrading, e.g. upgrading parks, civic areas, river walks, etc.
• Access facilities to amenities.
• Public utilities such as street lighting etc., but excluding water, sewage and major road works.
• General appearance upgrading, such as ornamental paving, street art, ornamental lighting and renovation of relevant derelict buildings (excluding traditional farm buildings which will be eligible for support under Axis 2)
• Farmers markets.

Ineligible Activities:

• Traditional farm buildings are excluded from the upgrading and renovation of relevant derelict buildings.

Projects funded under this measure include:

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Objective:

To provide an integrated approach to the protection of the local heritage through a suite of related preservation actions, complemented by a range of initiatives designed to develop the sustainable economic contribution of the natural heritage.

Eligible Activities include:

• Environmental initiatives aimed at waste reduction.
• Actions to preserve and develop vernacular architecture, crafts, archaeology, cultural traditions, etc.
• Integrated plans for the restoration and development of locally significant natural areas, features and areas of environmental significance.
• Community environmental actions to protect and restore the amenity value of local water resources and high value nature areas.
• Alternative or renewable energy actions addressing suitability of new technologies to meet community energy needs, awareness actions for community groups and under certain conditions, capital assistance to community groups adopting such technology.

Ineligible Activities:

• Conservation and protection of National Monuments, so defined under the National Monuments Acts 1930-2004.

Projects funded under this measure include:

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